ALTERNATIVE PLEA

EPISODE ONE: RETURN TO THE TURNABOUT

December 8, 2012- Ivy University

"This court sees no reason to further prolong the trial, nor is there any need for more time to decide the case against the defendant. This case is extremely clear. I see no room for any misinterpretation of the facts. This court finds the defendant...guilty."

Phoenix Wright's stomach tied itself into knots as he looked at his co-counsel, a petite girl with auburn hair cut into a short, shaggy bob that ended just below her ears. She stared straight ahead and scowled.

"I, er—I should have-" Phoenix stammered

"Can it," the girl growled. "Pay attention." She gestured toward the center of the room.

The middle-aged woman standing at the podium in the center of the classroom shook her head. "This concludes our mock trial. I want all of the participants to think very, very carefully about their mistakes." The professor turned her head toward Phoenix. "Especially the defense."

Phoenix groaned and turned to the girl standing next to him. "Look, Nola, I'm sure we're not going to fail this class just because of this. We still have one more mock trial to go! We'll win that one!"

Nola glared at Phoenix. "The way you blunder through things, it'll be a miracle if you even pass the bar!" Then, before Phoenix even had a chance to move, she punched him square in the face.

January 3, 2024- District Court, Defendant Lobby No. 2

My name is Phoenix Wright. Five years ago, I was the defense in a sensational case—Matt Engarde, the famous actor, hired an assassin to kill his rival. But I couldn't prove it, and so...so an innocent woman was found guilty of the murder, instead. I lost everything in that trial. My friends, my hope...I swore I'd never take another case, and for five years, I didn't. But two nights ago, I got a phone call. A young woman was crying and begging for help. She said she'd been arrested for murder. I tried to tell her that I wasn't a lawyer anymore, but...she insisted. And there was something about her case that made me want to take it.

Phoenix Wright's eyes darted around the Defendant Lobby. It was almost the same as it had been years ago. He was sure that the solemn-faced bailiffs guarding the courtroom doors were the same ones who'd always been there. The same red couch sat in the corner, just under the same painting...

He sighed. This case was going to be a messy one. A young woman had fallen from the roof of her apartment building—actually, according to his reports, she had been pushed, and her best friend had been booked for the murder. Some of the details were still fuzzy; Phoenix had only taken the case the day before—wasn't that just par for the course?

Phoenix figured he'd just bluff his way through it, and accept the outcome.

"Mr. Wright?"

Phoenix turned around to face his client, a petite woman with long auburn hair that she'd put up in a high ponytail. She had a pretty, oval-shaped face with wide-set green eyes, bow-shaped lips, and a pert nose. She looked down at her feet and chewed on her bottom lip. She'd dressed plainly for her court appearance—she wore a yellow button-down coat, gray slacks, and a black-and-white striped turtleneck. She fidgeted with the buttons on her coat and looked around the courtroom.

Phoenix couldn't shake the feeling that he recognized her from somewhere.

What was her name again?

Phoenix grimaced and quickly checked his case summary. Nola Contentra. Age 29. Works at the Prosecutor's Office.

"Mr. Wright?" Nola repeated. She looked him straight in the eye and frowned. "If this turns out like that time..."

"What time?" Phoenix asked, bristling. "Like that time five years-"

"No." Nola shook her head, then sighed. "You don't remember me, do you?" The corners of her lips turned up slightly in a Mona-Lisa smile.

"I-" Phoenix shook his head. He couldn't deny that he felt as if he'd met Nola before, but where? It had driven him absolutely crazy when he'd spoken to her at the Detention Center on New Year's Eve, in the way that knowing the melody to a song but not the words might.

Nola clicked her tongue and frowned. "Lemme jog your memory. Law school. Mock trial."

Phoenix started to shake his head, then froze. "M-mock trial?" I had a lot of those in law school, but one really sticks out...

Nola nodded. "You may remember a little red-headed girl that was partnered with you during that mock trial. You blundered through it..."

It dawned on Phoenix then that Nola had been the red-headed girl he'd been partnered with. He wanted to kick himself for not recognizing her sooner. To be fair, her longer hairstyle had changed her looks, and he'd been preoccupied with lots of other things that particular year.

"And I—we lost," Phoenix said slowly.

Nola shrugged. "Just don't lose this trial, okay? Or I'll black both your eyes." She folded her arms across her chest and smirked.

Phoenix grimaced. Urk! Better change the subject.

"So let me go back over a few things. You didn't give me a whole lot of prep time," Phoenix said. "You've been accused of murdering your best friend, Tiffany Glass, on New Year's Eve?"

"Mmmhmm." Nola nodded.

"She was pushed from the roof of her apartment complex, yes?" Phoenix continued.

"That's right," Nola said. She pushed her bangs out of her eyes.

"And the police suspect you because...?"

"Check your Court Record," Nola said. She tilted her head slightly. "You may find what you're looking for in Tiffany's autopsy report. Actually, go ahead and double-check all of the evidence, while you're at it."

Phoenix nodded and quickly pulled out the autopsy report.

AUTOPSY REPORT

Tiffany Glass, age 30.

Estimated time of death: Between 12:10 am and 12:15 am January 1.

Cause of death: Broken spine and severe internal injuries after a fall from a great height. Death was likely immediate.

Notes: Skin found under the victim's nails. Full DNA tests are pending, but some of the samples match those of the defendant. The defendant has several deep scratches on her right arm.

END AUTOPSY REPORT

EVIDENCE- VICTIM'S CELL PHONE

The victim's cell phone was found on the roof of the apartment complex.

RECENTLY RECEIVED CALLS

Mom- 12/9, 2:37 PM

Perry A.- 12/20, 4:55 PM

Perry A.- 12/22, 8:09 PM

Aunt Emily- 12/25, 10:17 AM

Perry A.- 12/25, 11:30 AM

Perry A.- 12/31, 11:45 PM

RECENTLY DIALED NUMBERS

Mom- 12/20, 4:35 PM

Aunt Emily- 12/22, 9:00 AM

Mom- 12/25, 3:47 PM

Nola- 12/31, 8:18 PM

Nola- 12/31, 9:45 PM

Nola- 1/1, 12:03 AM

END EVIDENCE

Phoenix's stomach tied itself into knots. Nola had to be guilty. Had to be. He stuffed the evidence back into his Court Record and sighed. Why did he bother? He should have known better than to believe in his client.

"Did you find what you were looking for, Phoenix?" Nola tilted her head slightly.

"It says in the autopsy report that the skin found under her nails was yours," Phoenix hissed. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't walk out of here right now."

Nola shrank back as though Phoenix had struck her and pouted. "Weren't you reading it carefully? Full DNA tests are pending. Only some of the skin is mine!" She folded her arms across her chest and bit her lower lip. "I told you what happened. She was dangling off the edge of the roof and I reached out my hand...but she couldn't hold on. And then the police found me up there."

She turned her head and eyed the bailiff, who was slowly making his way toward them. "Court's about to start, Phoenix. Let's go."

Phoenix swallowed. His hands were furiously shaking. He found himself faced with a very sudden, overpowering urge to run. He hadn't practiced law in five years! And anyway, Nola's case was pretty much open-and-shut. She had to be guilty. It was a waste of time for him to take this case, and he should have known better than to believe in her. He slowly turned and started edging away from the courtroom doors.

Nola seized his arm in a surprisingly powerful grip. "What the hell do you think you're doing?You can't leave me like this!" she hissed.

Phoenix sighed deeply. Well, it's too late to turn back now...

Janurary 3- District Court, Courtroom No. 2

Phoenix was, initially, surprised to see the same Judge who'd always presided over his cases in the courtroom. But of course it made sense for this Judge to be there. Of course.
The Judge blinked a few times upon seeing Phoenix enter the courtroom. "Oh, Mr. Wright. I didn't know you were still practicing law."

Phoenix grimaced. "I, ah, I haven't been. This is a favor."

The Judge nodded. "I trust that you've...ah, been studying?"

Phoenix nodded. "I have, Your Honor." He half-expected the Judge to quiz him on the details of the case, in the same way he had all those years ago during Phoenix's very first trial, but the Judge only nodded sagely.

"Very well," he said.

Phoenix took a deep breath and looked over at the prosecution's bench. There was no one there yet—and Phoenix found himself deeply unsettled by that fact.

Nola frowned. "Weird. Payne is usually super-early."

Phoenix groaned. Of course Winston Payne would be the prosecutor. Of course.

The Judge frowned. "The trial may have to be postponed-"

The doors that led to the Prosecution's Lobby swung open just then, cutting off the rest of the Judge's sentence. The click of heels on the polished floor echoed through the courtroom.

"That will be unnecessary, Your Honor," said a deep female voice.

Phoenix stared. That was definitely not Winston Payne.

The woman standing at the prosecution's bench was easily taller than Phoenix, even without her heels on. She had dark blue hair, which was pulled up into a tight bun, save for a fringe that fell over the right side of her face. A pair of pince-nez rested on her large, hooked nose, and behind those pince-nez were

steely gray eyes that seemed to notice everything. Phoenix found himself uncomfortably reminded of an eagle ready to swoop in for the kill.

Nola shook her head. "That's Prosecutor Javert," she whispered. "She's cold, man. Colder even than the French Alps from whence she came. Her win record isn't perfect, but she is relentless. They call her the Iron Lady. I heard she made a defense attorney cry once."

"P-Prosecutor Javert?" Phoenix stammered. "I-Iron Lady?" That sounds an awful lot like a medieval torture device.

Javert turned her attention to Phoenix. "Oh. Monsieur Wright," she said, smiling cordially. "I do hope you followed the proper procedures in order to reinstate yourself as a lawyer?"

"I never turned in my badge!" Phoenix snapped. "I'm still a lawyer!" What is with this lady?

She folded her arms across her chest. "But you have been out of practice for five years, yes? I believe the law states that if you have a long period of inactivity-"

"Er...Ms. Javert?" the Judge interrupted. "What is the meaning of this?"

Javert looked toward the Judge. "My apologies, Your Honor. Winston Payne took ill last night. I had to take this case, and it took some time for me to get all of my paperwork sorted out..." She bowed her head. "I do hope that's all right?"

"Er, it's fine," said the Judge. He blinked a few times, then nodded. "Very well. Is the prosecution ready?"

"Very much so, Your Honor," Javert replied.

The Judge turned toward Phoenix. "Is the defense ready?"

"Uh...yeah. Yes, the defense is ready!" I'm anything but ready.

"Then let's have the prosecution's opening statements," said the Judge.

Nola nudged Phoenix. "The law is Javert's religion. One slip-up and we're gonna be a in a world of hurt..."